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The Purge (2013)
Gimme a Break
The premise of the film is cool. One night a year the masses can create whatever mayhem they wish. In better writers and directors hands, this could have been a genre classic like Saw. It had all the potential to be scary and on the edge watching. Instead it has silly canned characters, poorly constructed scares and plot twists you see a mile a way. I especially disliked the 1950s styling of the family unit in a future society. Gimme a beak! Father Knows Best Leave it to Beaver kinda crap with the word penis thrown in for naughtiness. Ethan Hawke was so obviously "acting" it was ridiculous. The other actor's were good especially the son. The actor who played the ring leader of the maniacs was also menacing. Throughout the course of the film, characters just disappear for no apparent reason. Half the time, I didn't know where I was in the house where all the story takes place. I didn't jump once. Skip this movie. You're better off watching something like the original Saw or Strangers.
Trance (2013)
A Messy Dud
I'm a Danny Boyle fan. I loved Trainspotting and 28 Days Later, but this is one messy dud of a movie. Completely, unfocused,lacking intensity and suspense with bullshit styling and a distracting sound design. I'm not a fan of Voice-Over and there are very few films that do it right. This is not one of them. It's starts with a Voice-Over that is distracting and results in a making the action sequence utterly boring. It has a variety of other action scenes and they too fail to create excitement. In fact that may be the talent here, making so many dull action scenes in one movie. The film continues its downward spiral of sequences falling flat and an incoherent plot that clunks along to a I guess a climax.
The only bright spot is Rosario Dawson. She does a fantastic job and her introduction as a Hypnotist is one of the few strong scenes where the camera-work and sound design work effectively. I liked the use biurnal beats in these scenes to replicate the relaxation of hypnosis. The last sequence of the film is utterly charming and at least leaves you with a smile. Also, I didn't turn it off so I gave it points for that. I wouldn't waste a rental on this one.
Nobody Can Cool (2015)
A+ Thriller
This is a fun fun film. It is a well-written thriller that scores big. A couple go away for a weekend and get themselves into trouble with some criminals hiding out at a cabin. It is a visually dynamic wow of a movie that just doesn't come around that often. A low budget film with no name actors who act the pants off a film with a riveting story that looks and sounds great. I loved the character, Len, one of the criminals, played by Nick Principe. His role is a must see. He has a range of funny and scary as hell. His sidekick, his very pregnant girlfriend, plays her nasty girl routine to the hilt.
The good gal, Catherine Annett, brings a first class job playing a woman who is put through the paces, running mascara and all who is no pushover. She does a great job of dishing it out and has some truly unexpected moments with Len. I was fully engaged and gasped out loud in places. There are some shocking images. I'm surprised to find out this is a first film. This is a goody.
Zodiac (2007)
Fincher's Inept Thriller
I thought Seven was an excellent thriller but Zodiac is boring. I streamed it last night. For the rest of you, don't bother. It amazes me that Fincher managed to take a well written script and strong performances and create a boring film that I turned off half way through it. This film lacked any intensity whatsoever. The plot is excellent and intriguing based on the real story. The actor's bring on the performances but Fincher's direction was the problem. You would have thought this was his first big budget feature. His shot selection was so distant that I didn't feel a thing. The eye-lines were off half the time. I found myself answering emails instead of watching this. Fincher knows how to create some beautiful well choreographed crane shots, and other well framed long shots but put them altogether and you get a poorly boring paced film.